A bill that would have revamped workers\u2019 compensation laws in California to the detriment of professional athletes has died.<\/p>\n
The NFL Players Association has informed registered contract advisors that the effort to turn the proposed legislation into law has ended.<\/p>\n
\u201cCalifornia SB 795, a bill that would have significantly restricted professional athletes\u2019 access to workers\u2019 compensation benefits, has been pulled from consideration and will not move forward for a vote,\u201d the NFLPA said in an email to agents, a copy of which PFT has obtained. \u201cThis is a meaningful win for your clients and helps keep critical protections in place for injuries sustained during their careers. Protecting the health, safety and legal rights of active and former players remains a top priority, and we will continue to fight against efforts that threaten those protections.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, the NFLPA made it clear that it \u201cstrongly opposes\u201d the effort. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs employees in a high-risk profession, NFL players rely on workers\u2019 compensation as a critical protection<\/a>,\u201d the union said at the time. \u201cIn fact, the cost of these benefits is already paid by our players out of their collectively bargained share of league revenue. By advancing this latest anti-player legislation, California\u2019s professional sports teams are seeking to evade that system for financial gain, denying injured athletes the care they are owed.\u201d<\/p>\n